Varanasi, Sep 13: Heavy rainfall in Uttar Pradesh triggered flood-like situation at several places, bringing normal life to halt, particularly in Varanasi and Allahabad. Temples on Varanasi ghats submerged due to incessant rains and due to a swelling Ganga river. In the past few days, the river water rose by more than two metres above its normal mark. Residents staying adjacent to the river bank said that they were relocating to a higher level, away from the water.

Authorities have also prohibited boating in the Ganga river. If the water level rises further, it may enter the areas in the low-lying region. This has put the area on high alert. Earlier this week, Uttar Pradesh official had said that cremations, which used to occur at the Manikarnika ghat, have now been shifted to upper platforms due to the rising water. Nearly 25 people have been killed in rain-related incidents, including wall collapses, house cave-ins and lightening.

Uttar Pradesh is prone to floodsdue to its proximity to the neighbouring nation and at times gets extremely heavy rains, private whether agency Skymet Weather reported. According to the MeT department Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, east and west Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan are likely to receive heavy rainfall.

Incessant rains over the past few days have wreaked havoc across the state. In the last week, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall at several places in 22 states and urged people to take precautionary measures to avoid casualties.